I can picture his goofy smile and shaking shoulders, can practically hear his silent chuckle and I grin while quickly changing into my swim trunks and tank top.
It's the second of the three uniforms I'll be donning today. The first was my Krazy Kady's Coffee and Bakery T-shirt and apron, and my third will be my slightly too revealing scoop-neck T and jean shorts for my shift at Wild Bill's Sports Bar in a couple of hours.
"All right, you grumpy old fart, you better be ready or else you're getting into bed smelling like beer and cheese."
Dad flashes me a condescending smirk as I stroll into his bathroom, then he uses his left hand to motion to himself from head to toe. He's already naked as a jaybird, save for the hand towel over his lap, elevated above the tub with the water running.
"Oooh, feeling a little proud, are we?"
He nods with a shit eating grin.
Testing the water with one hand, I use the other to grab the shower head then pop it free and spray his ass—literally—before grabbing the sling and stepping on the floor pedal to lower him to the shower chair. I wash his hair first and like always, dad tilts his head back and closes his eyes while I massage the shampoo into his thick, cinnamon waves streaked with silver.
After the final rinse, I take the shaving cream and lather his face, shave it close with his straight razor then wash his cheeks.
"Just like a baby's butt."
Dad smiles then shifts and wiggles the best he can as I wash his body. I leave him to wash the parts I will not wash until I absolutely have to, pick out his pajamas, and turn down the bed. When he knocks twice on the wall I head back in and start raising him from the shower chair. I dry him off the best I can before getting him situated back in his wheelchair.
Once we're in the bedroom, I help him dress, make sure he attaches a new colostomy bag correctly because I will never let that be incorrect ever again—talk aboutshit storm— then switch his catheter to the overnight bag and help him get into bed.
I check to make sure his phone is charging, refill his water bottle, set the remote on his nightstand then tuck him in.
"I get off at two, should be home by two-thirty." I flip the switch on his lamp then press a kiss to his forehead. "You need anything?"
He waves me off then grabs his marker boardQuit your fussing, woman. Go get ready for work.
"Yeah, yeah. I love you, old man."
He taps the board just before I walk out.I love you too, Josey Posey. Be smart, be sweet, be safe.
I nod and give him one more smile, turn out the light and close his door. With a sigh, I head to my room, grab my clothes then walk across the hall to the bathroom to shower and shave myself.
Thirty-two years old and some nights I feel like I'm just shy of ninety.
There is not enough caffeine in the world for the next few days.
Too Old
By twelve-fifteen damn near everyone in town between the ages of twenty-one and fifty is at the bar.
My feet hurt.
My legs are sore.
My back is on fire and I'm so tired I feel like I could curl up in the ice chest and take a twelve hour nap.
I don't have that luxury though.
No, I still have about two hours left of my shift, then I'll stay and help the girls clean up and close down, cash out our tips, make next week's schedule with Bill then drag my exhausted ass home to crawl into bed no earlier than three-thirty. If I'm lucky I'll get two hours of sleep before I have to be up for my shift at Kady's where I'll be on my feet for twelve hours before I repeat tonight's routine all over again, save for my shift at the bar.
At least I don't work at Bill's Sunday night. Maybe I can talk dad into going to bed at seven-thirty.
I toss my rag into the bin on a yawn I try to hide, then look at the clock. Casey blows by with a tray of tall boys, shoots me a silly cross-eyed grin then heads toward the table of the rowdy college guys home for the weekend.
Travis comes in from the back carrying a keg on each shoulder, and just as he sets them down he looks up at me with a stupid handsome smile.
"Whatchu doing after your shift, Posey? Got time to..." He wags his eyebrows in lieu of finishing his question and I just roll my eyes.
